So basically

4

4thngoal

Well-Known Member
My only concern with the O is depth on the line and of course like most teams qb. If they can't field an extremely proficient offense with the guys we have I will be severely disappointed.
This offense should be able to hang with anybody in the nation. Hopefully all our new coaches are full of energy, because we need to push them all, but I would be more at ease knowing the second team is really fighting for the starting roles.

The defense is a little scary. By a little I mean maybe a 50/50 chance of being in the top half of the big. That is nothing to brag about. Fact that is scary. We have some pieces, but so many holes. If our defense can reload, it speaks volumes about the coaches and the players.
Because I don't think we have ever started a year with so much to do and fill on that side of the ball.
 
4thngoal said:
My only concern with the O is depth on the line and of course like most teams qb. If they can't field an extremely proficient offense with the guys we have I will be severely disappointed.
This offense should be able to hang with anybody in the nation. Hopefully all our new coaches are full of energy, because we need to push them all, but I would be more at ease knowing the second team is really fighting for the starting roles.

The defense is a little scary. By a little I mean maybe a 50/50 chance of being in the top half of the big. That is nothing to brag about. Fact that is scary. We have some pieces, but so many holes. If our defense can reload, it speaks volumes about the coaches and the players.
Because I don't think we have ever started a year with so much to do and fill on that side of the ball.
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I’m not sure man.

We were a pretty bad offense last year and we lost our best offensive player and two very good interior linemen. I’m very excited for some of the pieces we have but I’m not convinced we can hang with any team in the country. I’d say I hope we are upper half of the B1G in that regard.

I’m regards to defense we certainly lose some but we also return a ton of guys who have a lot of experience. Hankins, OJ, and Manny have all played a lot in the secondary as have Hooker and Gervase. The Dline is loaded and can certainly replace one loss. Linebackers are the big concern no question but I think Bower was only average and can be replaced. Need a few to emerge.

Bottom line, it’s Iowa football, I’ll have more confidence in our defense than our offense until proven otherwise.
 
Defense is the last thing this team has to worry about. Phil Parker has literally made millions of dollars by bailing Kirk Ferentz’s offenses out. He’s a real coach with a football mind who knows how to run a unit and how to recruit kids that fit. He’s all business with no “that’s football” psychobabble.

Offense on the other hand, that’s going to be a problem. How many career NCAA receptions does the WR corps have? Not many.

Wadley was the only reason the Hawks won the games they did and he’s gone. Young and IKM? Yikes. Add a first year center to the two RBs who can’t block and Stanley’s in trouble.

The only way this team is even competitive is if they stick with 2 TE sets and Fant leads the country again.
 
On defense we don't have any size in the middle save one. They are scrambling to find someone, anyone for depth. All new lb's. People who have played in the back field but none that really stood out.

Yeah we might be a little thin at OL, but they are not undersized and with all the rotation they have done, next man in (even if you have to slide someone over) is much easier. Our backs look pretty good, sounds like some people can run routes and catch the ball now. I suspect Nate's touch has been refined.

I'm far more worried about our defense.
 
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Fryowa said:
Defense is the last thing this team has to worry about. Phil Parker has literally made millions of dollars by bailing Kirk Ferentz’s offenses out. He’s a real coach with a football mind who knows how to run a unit and how to recruit kids that fit. He’s all business with no “that’s football” psychobabble.

Offense on the other hand, that’s going to be a problem. How many career NCAA receptions does the WR corps have? Not many.

Wadley was the only reason the Hawks won the games they did and he’s gone. Young and IKM? Yikes. Add a first year center to the two RBs who can’t block and Stanley’s in trouble.

The only way this team is even competitive is if they stick with 2 TE sets and Fant leads the country again.
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Wadley is a huge loss, but I have a feeling the loss of Daniels will be more noticeable.
 
VTHawk said:
There are some things to be excited about the offense this year but I don't see us being anywhere near the nations elite.
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I guess I should rephrase. I think we should be able to move the ball and score on just about anyone.
Not every touch of course. But I'm far less confident that we can stop anyone.
That we might have to put up 40 plus in many games to get the W.
When was the last time we could say our offense was our strength??
 
Yawn....................... Just another Hawkeye season of mediocrity. Upset some one good, lose to someone bad, toss up games against the in betweeners like ourselves. The question is where amongst the middle of the pack teams will we finish. ;)
 
Historically the quality of Iowa's defense has been the determining factor in how well they do overall. There are two years that are big exceptions to that, last year and 2007. Both 2017 & 2007 had good defenses, but on offense had new quarterbacks, major issues with the offensive line, and less than adequate receivers.

As a rule, Iowa's ball control offense has tended to under perform a bit, with a few years being the exception. Iowa's ability to produce big plays has generally been a bit better than perception. I have an idea that ball control offense will be improved, but we will miss Wadley's big play ability. Hopefully, Stanley has a bit better touch on his passes his second year. That in itself, might help the number of receptions.
 
AreWeThereYet said:
Historically the quality of Iowa's defense has been the determining factor in how well they do overall. There are two years that are big exceptions to that, last year and 2007. Both 2017 & 2007 had good defenses, but on offense had new quarterbacks, major issues with the offensive line, and less than adequate receivers.

As a rule, Iowa's ball control offense has tended to under perform a bit, with a few years being the exception. Iowa's ability to produce big plays has generally been a bit better than perception. I have an idea that ball control offense will be improved, but we will miss Wadley's big play ability. Hopefully, Stanley has a bit better touch on his passes his second year. That in itself, might help the number of receptions.
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I pretty much agree. I don't think (even though he was an awesome talent) that we will miss Wadley as much as most people do. The reason why he and Fant are talked about so much is because we had nobody else. Well ok Nick too.
I think with our new backs, Noah and Nick back, Nate really settling in and adding some touch, and two young receivers prepared to have a break out season, we have plenty of weapons. The line is a little thin and a little worrisome, but overall if guys can stay healthy, should be pretty stout.

The other side goes.....? ? ?

I don't recall very many times where I would have trusted our offense more than our Defense. That's my point.
I'm not saying our defense can't get it going. I'm saying if they do, those players and coaches deserve a ton of appreciation for overcoming.
 
So basically as it sits now in my mind, flip of the coin?? I don't think I would defer very often.
Hopefully I'm wrong. But that's just how I'm leaning right now.
 
Fryowa said:
Defense is the last thing this team has to worry about. Phil Parker has literally made millions of dollars by bailing Kirk Ferentz’s offenses out. He’s a real coach with a football mind who knows how to run a unit and how to recruit kids that fit. He’s all business with no “that’s football” psychobabble.

Offense on the other hand, that’s going to be a problem. How many career NCAA receptions does the WR corps have? Not many.

Wadley was the only reason the Hawks won the games they did and he’s gone. Young and IKM? Yikes. Add a first year center to the two RBs who can’t block and Stanley’s in trouble.

The only way this team is even competitive is if they stick with 2 TE sets and Fant leads the country again.
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Only reason was Wadley huh?? Last I checked coach it is a team game. How about Nate Stanley and look at those two newbie tackles against the mighty O State 5 star first round NFL draft picks. Seems you are leavin' a whole bunch of guys out.

I would bet large $$$$$$$ that PP is a YUGE Kirk fan. He is or he would not be there for so long.

See ya Coach.
 
Seems like a lot of optimism from some about the offense, I'm not seeing it. Wadley was very good we still have no proven recievers and no center yet. The d is likely to be weak up the middle with an undersized line and new lbs. Sign me up for 6-6
 
westender said:
Only reason was Wadley huh?? Last I checked coach it is a team game...
...See ya Coach.
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Wow, you're upset.

And you're going to cherry pick one single game? Come on...that's weak. Up your game. Check how many yards and free first downs Wirfs gave opposing teams with his false starts (I'll give you a hint, he led the team by a loooong ways). For the record, I like Wirfs.

Phil Parker is obviously a "YUGE" Kirk fan. Kirk's the reason he got hired and is a millionaire. What's so shocking about that?
 
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I see 3 big yellow flags...most of which have been talked about above;

1. New center. a big wild card in a KFz offense that requires execution for even the most mundane plays
2. New linebackers. Parker's D has covered for a lot of KFz shortcomings. His scheme requires solid LB play.
3. Wadley. Yes we have talented guys in the fold, but he was a game-changer...quite literally.

7-5
 
If we average 24 a game and not have that average distorted by 3 45 performances and 3 7 point performances, we will win 11.
But I see the same thing as last year. A couple really explosive games and a few really poor games. leaving us at 7 or 8 wins again.
 
Kennyfromminne said:
Seems like a lot of optimism from some about the offense, I'm not seeing it. Wadley was very good we still have no proven recievers and no center yet. The d is likely to be weak up the middle with an undersized line and new lbs. Sign me up for 6-6
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6-6 is what I have. Kirk has only swept the non-cons 6 times since he's been here, odds are he's losing one. Pick 1 of the tosses and a fluke upset over Penn Sate, Northwestern, or Wisconsin.

And for those of you thinking I'm being overly pessimistic, that puts us at 4-5 conference, same as last year. If anything, I'm being way too generous losing Wadley, all three LBs, Daniels and Jackson.

NIU - L
ISU - W
UNI - W
WI - L
MN - Toss
IN - Toss
MD - Toss
PSU - L
PUR - L
NW - L
IL - W
NE - W
 
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Fryowa said:
6-6 is what I have. Kirk has only swept the non-cons 6 times since he's been here, odds are he's losing one. Pick 1 of the tosses and a fluke upset over Penn Sate, Northwestern, or Wisconsin.

NIU - L
ISU - W
UNI - W
WI - L
MN - Toss
IN - Toss
MD - Toss
PSU - L
PUR - L
NW - L
IL - W
NE - W
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Looks about right to me
 
Motigerhawk said:
If we average 24 a game and not have that average distorted by 3 45 performances and 3 7 point performances, we will win 11.
But I see the same thing as last year. A couple really explosive games and a few really poor games. leaving us at 7 or 8 wins again.
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I doubt it's that low. I over exaggerated it at 40, but averaging 24 and getting 11 wins may have been possible when our defense was our strength.
Our current defense has a whole lot to prove before I'll believe 24 gets it done.
 
Fryowa said:
Wow, you're upset.

And you're going to cherry pick one single game? Come on...that's weak. Up your game. Check how many yards and free first downs Wirfs gave opposing teams with his false starts (I'll give you a hint, he led the team by a loooong ways). For the record, I like Wirfs.

Phil Parker is obviously a "YUGE" Kirk fan. Kirk's the reason he got hired and is a millionaire. What's so shocking about that?
Click to expand...

C'mon bro. Phil Parker could have left Iowa a zillion times if he so chose and made more money. You know this. Phil loves Kirk Ferentz.

Ya see man, I don't expect new players to step in and not make mistakes and be inconsistent. I expect them to make mistakes and have bad games and learn and get better. Only in the land of delusion does one expect newbies to step in and play at all pro level from play 1 to end of career. Go back and watch tape of Scherf when he first got thrown in there. I bet lots of mistakes and inconsistent games to start out.
 
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